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&..&&..&.. ................ .&.&......
&&.&.&.&&. THE ALVAR FIELDS .&&&&.....
&.&&&&&&.& ***##########*** &&...&....
&&&.....&& &.&..&&...
&..&....&. FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, THIRTY ODD &&&&.&.&..
&&.&&...&& KILOMETERS. FROM WEST TO EAST, FOUR ....&&&&&.
&.&&.&..&. THOUSAND METERS. FROM TOPSOIL TO STONE, &...&....&
.&&.&&&.&& A FOOT OR TWO. NO ROOTS CAN FESTER, NO .&..&&...&
&&.&&..&&. DUST CAN LINGER. &&&.&.&..&
..&&.&.&.& ...&&&&&.&
&.&.&&&&&& HERE IS EARTH, CLAY, AND STURDY LOW &..&....&&
.&&&&..... PLANTS. BUSHES FRAME THE STRIP. THE &&.&&...&.
.&...&.... EARTH IS BARE IN PATCHES AS LARGE AS &.&&.&..&&
&&&..&&... YOU AND ME. .&&.&&&.&.
&..&.&.&.. .&.&&..&&&
.&.&&&&&&. CROSS IT TO GET TO THE OCEAN, OR DON'T .&&&.&.&..
.&&&.....& TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE. &&..&&&&&.
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